¹ A Psalm of David. Strive, O LORD, with those who strive with me; fight against those who fight against me.

² Take hold of a shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.

³ Also draw out the spear and the lance against those who pursue me; say to my soul, I am your salvation.

⁴ Let them be humbled and put to shame, those who seek after my soul; let them be turned back and be brought to blushing, those who plot evil to me.

⁵ Let them be as chaff before the wind; and let the Angel of the LORD drive them away.

⁶ Let their way be dark and slippery; and let the Angel of the LORD pursue them.

⁷ For without cause they have spread their net for me in a pit-net; without cause they have dug for my soul.

⁸ Let destruction come upon him, he will not know; and let his net which he has hidden concealed catch him, let him fall in it, into destruction.

⁹ And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; it shall rejoice in His salvation.

¹⁰ All my bones shall say, O LORD, who is like You, who delivers the poor from those stronger than he; yea, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?

¹¹ Cruel witnesses rose up; they asked of me that which I never knew.

¹² They rewarded me evil for good; bereaving my soul.

¹³ But when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fastings; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

¹⁴ As a friend, as to my brother, I walked; as one who mourns for a mother, I was bowed down, mourning.

¹⁵ But in my stumbling they rejoiced, and gathered themselves; the defamers gathered themselves against me, and I knew not; they tore and were not silent,

¹⁶ with the hypocrites, mockers, for a cake, they gnashed on me with their teeth.

¹⁷ O LORD, how long will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my only one from the lions.

¹⁸ I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty people.

¹⁹ Let not those who are my lying enemies rejoice over me, those who hate me without cause wink with the eye.

²⁰ For they do not speak peace; but they think deceitful things against the quiet ones of the earth.

²¹ And they widen their mouths against me; they say, Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen.

²² You have seen, O LORD; do not keep silence; O LORD, do not be far from me.

²³ Stir up Yourself and awaken to my judgment, to my cause, my God and my Lord.

²⁴ Judge me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness; and do not let them rejoice over me.

²⁵ Let them not say in their hearts, Aha! Our Soul! Let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

²⁶ Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor together, those who magnify themselves over me.

²⁷ Let those who delight in my justification shout and rejoice; and they shall say without ceasing, The Lord be magnified, delighting in the peace of His servant.

²⁸ And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness, of Your praise all the day long.